Sunday, November 30, 2014

Chances are that you've been shopping or browsing online and offline all weekend. Nonetheless, marketers sill insist that the shopping continues full force though Cyber Monday.

Chuckle as you might, we are a stickler to tradition. Some of the discounts aren't as good as they were over the weekend. So be careful, impulse can easily overcome Monday morning shoppers. (P.S. Start with Yoox.)

Amazon Fashion
Discounts vary but Prime is almost as fast as hailing a cab from mid-town

Friday, November 28, 2014

The Internet is full of discount shopping destinations but few offer really wonderful designer merchandise at great prices. Amuze is a major standout. This online flash sale site offers a varsity of authentic and brand new merchandise from the most exclusive fashion designers and prices up to 90% off retail.

Lets take a look: Starting at 9pm, Thursday, the site is hosting a huge Thanksgiving sale that includes shoes and bags, clothing for women and men. The best part is that everything on the site is an additional 20% off from Thursday at 9pm through the end of Cyber Monday. Just use the code GIVETHANKS30 for additional savings on clothing and GIVETHANKS20 to activate the discount on shoes and bags.

Seems good? We agree. But the deal gets better. For the first 24-hours of the sale, starting at 9pm set, customers will receive free shipping. The post-Thanksgiving sale beings at 9pm on Thursday night and will run until midnight Monday. very pretty Red Valentino dress is about $160 from $850 and Saint Laurent sneakers are $200 from $610.

So, gobble ... gobble... gobble and rest assured that this type of of consumption will not add a millimeter to your waist line.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Once the Tryptophan wears off, it's time to take a shopping trip. After all, it's Black Friday. There's so many stores and so little patience. You will want to choose your shopping destination wisely. Here are some of the best options. If you're totally crowd adverse, great shopping is only a tap-tap away on your computer.

Saks Fifth Avenue
Prices for the shopping extravaganza will be reduced up to 60% off if you can get to the store before noon. (The discount is available online now.) an Ostwald Helgason banana dress is $321 from $535 and Alexander McQueen smoking slippers are $258 from $465. Just a warning, the early Saks crowd can be overwhelming. We highly recommend taking a break at the floor NailsInc station. On-the-spot manicures are just $18 and last forever.
Contact: Fifth Avenue Club (Eric) 212-753-4000

Gap
Stock up on all your basics and hats, gloves and pajamas for the kids. Everything is 50% off in honor of Black Friday. Women's wool slip-on sneakers are $20 from $40 and girl's Kate Spade "Hi-5" mittens are $12 from $24. Banana is offering 50% off full price merch and an extra 40% off already reduced items. Athleta is offering no additional discounts, but they should!

Zara
In honor of the shopping holiday, Zara is offering 30% off everything online and in stores. A geometric wool coat is $104 from $150 and a premium leather midi-skirt is $195 from $279. Our favorite Zara store is Fifth Avenue because of the great selection of limited edition merchandise. Just don't be surprised if it's crowded with tourists.

Bloomingdales
Discounts are up to 50% off but many are even more. Online shoppers will also get $25 off every $200 spent. We suggest pouncing on those items you've been stalking since the last friends and family sale. Who doesn't want to grab this Marc by Marc Jacobs dress that's $269 from $600 or Paige Denim double zipper ultra skinnys are $200 from $270. The online discount ends Saturday but extends through Sunday, in stores.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The ultra-lux accessories online store, Paire is hosting a huge Thanksgiving sale where everything on the site is 50% off. The promotion also includes sale items, which would bring the discount to 75% off. Just use the code FIFTY at checkout. Don't hesitate, this promotion only lasts a few days and will come to an end on Tuesday, December 2.

Paire is widely known for its amazingly curated variety of fashion jewelry. The site includes Rodarte, Viktor & Rolf, Shourouk, as well as cult designers Bernard Delettrez, ek Thongprasert and Annelise Michelson. The also has an assortment of handbags that can only be found at Paire, such as, bags from Nina Ricci, Mawi, Shourouks and Andrew Gn.

We were so excited to find Diana Broussard's chunky, plexiglass-link, Nate necklace. The fashion hound must-have is $164 from $275. It's available in a large assortment bright colors and Paire even has the elusive black. Among fashion accessories you can snag Rodarte leather gloves come to $200 from $400 and a Yazbukey Karl Brooch is $90 from $180.

We deffinilty suggest shopping soon, as the sale ends Tuesday, December 2. Paire is one of those sites that you should absolutely keep on your bookmark list. It's not easy to find an online store that sells off-the-runway jewels for such amazing prices.

Nothing beats the in-store experience, When you're cooking a Thanksgiving meal for 20, however, it could be physically impossible. Shopping is the best way to break up the monotony of cooking. Stir the cranberry sauce, buy shoes from Net-a-Porter for 50% off.

Below are some of the sales we will be shopping while we baste and bake. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Monday, November 24, 2014

Some presales are more difficult to infiltrate than others. Gucci and Bottega Veneta are two brands that like to stagger the opening of their markdown season starting with their best customers. Some consumers are happy knowing that loyalty pays off but we are true believers of equal opportunity shopping. Here are the details:

GucciThe Gucci presale started today. Bags are 30% off and clothing and shoes are 40% off. Included in the sale are the Microguccissima, the Miss GGs, select color Bamboos, the Borsa Lady Tassel, the Soho, the Emily and more. The sale goes public Friday, November 28th. Take note, if you are shopping in the boutique you may find different price tags on the same item. There was recently a price increase and not all items have been updated to reflect the change. The online sale link is right this way: Gucci Sale.

Bottega VenetaThe Bottega Veneta presale started today for existing customers. Sales associates are "checking the computer system" to see if customers are eligible to participate in shopping the markdowns. Leather goods, like bags, wallets and belts are 30% off and clothing and shoes are 50% off. The sale goes public on December 1st and comes to a complete end on December 4th. The discounts are usually reflected online later in the season.

When you're surrounded by gorgeous luxury items, day-in and day-out, you tend to get a bit jaded. Mass market luxury just won't do. We are taking it up a whole new level and picking bags that can even make a Vogue editor drool. Any woman who turns up her nose at these handbags deserves a pair of sequined Uggs.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Impressing someone you love with a pricey gift is never easy. Chances are that Mr. or Ms. Lucky is extra picky too. Finding just the right item that won't be returned is like winning the trifecta.

Here are a few gift ideas even the most jaded woman won't shear at. As always, we suggest you hold on to the receipt. And, PS, feel free to forward these ideas if you know someone you know needs some "guidance."

Barneys shoppers can begin to presale for the first markdown starting Monday. The discount is 40% across the board-- clothing, shoes and bags for men, women and children. Besides for the outstanding selection, 40% discounts make Barneys the best department store to shop for holiday deals.

Among the reduced items are Prosenza Schouler bags in several shades, like silver, blue, green and purple. Assorted Saint Laurent Sac de Jour bags, like the studded version. A small selection of Givenchy bags, like the HDG mini tote. In the shoe department, you can count on most of the Prada and Miu Miu collection to be discounted along with Valentino and Chloe.

Barneys' sales associates aren't always forthcoming with presales. If there is an item you want to secure, we suggest that you give your name and number to the respective brand associate and have them call you when the discount becomes available. You can usually expect a call within hours of leaving the store.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Every holiday season there are items so hot that retailers can't keep them in stock. Before the turkey even gets into the oven, it's hard to think ahead to what you might want and need. Take a tip from us, it's never too early to start thinking about what's hot, because if you don't, you may find yourself paying more than you should during last minute desperation.

In order to help you along, we're forecasting the biggest sellouts of the season. This should give you a chance to get what's hot now rather than trying to outbid the next guy. Good luck!

Louboutin Polish $50
Christian Louboutin is best known for his pricey shoes but this holiday season the designer's newly launched red polish is sure to be a top sell-out. It's the perfect luxury gift that says a lot without having to spend too much.

Hunter Original Duffle Coat $695
Finding the perfect coat that fits everyone perfectly is never going to happen but this duffle-style is as close to perfect as you're going to get. The price point is quite accommodating and the style is catching the eye of shoppers. Expect this item to be picked up quickly after first markdown.

Stella McCartney Rope Clutch $1520
Hardly any stores purchased the rope-style bag and nearly everyone that did sold out. The clutch isn't even listed on Net-A-Proter any more. This is the only retailer that we could find that still has this bag in stock. Get it before you can't.

Valentino Mini-Dress $7790
That price tag may look like a typo, but it's not. This dress is not far from 10-grand but is almost all sold out across the country. We suggest you jump on this purchase if you're looking to ring in 2015 wearing Valentino polka dots. Nordstrom only has a size 10 and NAP only has three sizes left.

Chanel Wallet On a Chain $2195
Chanel's Wallet on a Chain has become one of the hardest bags to get from the French fashion house. Inventory is sure to disappear before the holidays. We suggest you start your search now before prices on the secondary market skyrocket.

NIKE + Riccardo Tisci Air Force 1 $340
What happens when Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci teams up with Nike? You get a sneaker sensation. This knee high sneaker is a fashion lovers dream. It's eye-catching and hard to get. Buy now or you will be at eBay's mercy.

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Presales-- the time before boutiques and department stores officially being sale season-- can be a tricky time to shop. Not all sales associates are forthcoming about the discounts and some will completely deny having any knowledge of a sale. For this reason, we try to highlight the markdowns at as many stores as possible and share the inside scoop. Please feel free to add your personal experience and intelligence to the comment section below the post.

Bloomingdales:
The markdown designer markdown will officially begin on Saturday. You can expect to see a discount of 40% on most designer items. As usual, Chanel will not join the sale party until early December. Sale highlights include the fourth floor shoe section that is filled with plenty of Ferragamo and Prada. You can see lots of pictures from the shoe department after the jump.Mimi 212-705-2489

Tom Ford
Don't tell anyone we told you but Tom Ford is hosting a sale where much of the fall and winter collection of shoes and clothing is 40% off. Unfortunately, only past customers are able to shop the discount. If you're not "in the system" we suggest you drop a person's name who you know is a regular Tom Ford customer. The sale discount on bags is very small and the discount is only 30% off. Included in the markdown is a large Jennifer Tote, a Jennifer cross body in white, a Natalia clutch in red, the Alix shoulder bag in a calf hair cheetah print and a neutral suedes and a gold suede, Even though you may prefer to rock Tom Ford over popping molly, the iconic dress isn't included in the markdown and is still over $6k.Email me for info.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

While most Americans are panning their Thanksgiving meals, we are stalking our favorite Madison Avenue boutiques for the first opportunities to shop markdowns. We uncovered some early hits of sale season.

Prada
Presale will begin on Friday. The discounts will range from 40% to 50% off but the final determination on discounts has not been made. The sale selection will include seasonal items from the pre-fall and fall collections. That means you can snag savings on lots of jewel tones -- purple, teal and red were the predominate themes of the latest collections. This season the shoe collection was more of a snooze. The one exception is the tassel loafers with the chain. Right now, Bluefly has the style reduced about 20% off.Zohair 212-664-0010

Miu Miu
The Miu Miu presale will also begin Friday. The best part is that the elaborate moto boots like this studded style and these with crystals are likely to be included in the markdown. Again, they haven't released the discount amounts for each item but we are told that markdowns will range from 30% to 40% off. Catherine 212-641-2980

Saint Laurent
If you're looking to snag a nice savings on YSL we suggest you head there fast as the boutique's sales people are currently calling dibs on the best items. Included in the markdown is this gorgeous patent and leather Sac De Jour that comes to about $1900 from $2750. Also 30% off are assorted colored Lulu Bags and we think we even spotted a black Trois Clous. In the shoe section, select Tributes will be discounted 20% and other shoes will be 30% to 40% off.Kiara 212-980-2970

Monday, November 17, 2014

The Armani sample sale is one of those sales that consistently runs under the blogging radar. It's listed everywhere but the brand doesn't usually compel bloggers to show up. This is a huge mistake.

Last season, we were curious enough to shop the sale on the last day and found the most amazing selection of clothing for men and women all reduced up to 90% off. Almost every collection from the Armani family could be found at the sale: Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Collezioni and Armani Jeans. Our favorite items were the shoes and jewelry that were priced between $150 and $300 from over $1000.

The sale started on Saturday and there have already been discounts. To get the best deals, we suggest you plan an attack on Wednesday. We're sure you will be happy you did. Check back for more details as the sale progresses.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Charlotte Olympia is kicking off the markdown season with a very secret presale that begins Monday. Shoes and bags from this past pre-fall and fall collections will be marked down 50%.

There is a huge assortment of merchandise included in early-season VIP promotion. You can browse through the designer's pre-fall and fall collections to get an idea of the assortment. As the holiday season approaches, take note that the 'Girls" bag is a big part of gift guides, as well as, the Kinky Handcuff clutch that was highlighted in Gwen's holiday Goop guide.

The boutique will not allow any holds. All sale items must be secured by payment and can be retrieved starting Monday. You can click on the jump to see some of our favorite sale items.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Chanel is always such heart breaker. You fall in love again, and again, only to be tortured by their ever rising prices. The brand is surly outpacing inflation. And who, frankly, can rationalize more when you already have several?

Yigal Azrouel has historically been one of our favorite designer sample sales. His clothing is edgy and the price for price-quality ratio was always spot on. This season, there are no samples and prices are so all over the place that its hard to call it a legitimate 'sample sale'.

The two day sale doesn't officially start until Friday, but we couldn't help ourselves from spying as they unpacked the boxes. For the first time, the sale isn't being held at the designer's showroom in midtown. Instead, shoppers will need to head to the Metropolitan Pavilion, in Chelsea, to browse coveted Yigal and Cut25.

The Metropolitan Pavilion is a spacious, well-organized sale and (gasp!) there is a dressing room. However, there are no samples for sale this year, which means you can forget about walking out with those great deals that we historically love. What is a sample sale without any samples?

Even though we love the design and quality of the Yigal Azrouel line, our wallets said, 'No' to the high prices for past season's merchandise. A long sleeve knit crew neck t-shirt was priced at $100, dresses were prices at $350. A cool white and mesh dress is $100 more than last season at $350.

The highlight of the sale was the Cut25 section were there was tons of stock and better pricing. In the Cut25 styles, we found better prices than the previous sample sale, though a lot of the styles were the same. It almost seems as if they cleaned out the warehouse for this sale.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Cooler temperatures are forcing us to complete that dreaded wardrobe switch and getting excited about last year's sweaters just isn't happening. Now is the perfect time to stock up on basics (and not so basics) from J. Crew.

Right now, J. Crew is hosting a sale where almost all full priced merchandise is 25% off. (Just use the code SHOPNOW at checkout.)

Sometimes we find that J. Crew can be hard to shop but some items are absolute wardrobe staples. For example, Pixie pants are a must-have for a girl (or woman) of any age. They are universally flattering and are perfect to wear with everything from this season's oxfords to knee-high riding boots. A pretty pink crew neck sweater is an excellent way to sweeten up grey chilly days. The very-this-season cocoon coat comes in seven colors and one is sure to match your mood.

Madison Avenue J. Crew shoppers should be sure to "remind" their sales person about the discount when checking out. We find that J. Crew employees often "forget" to apply the discount. As a general rule of thumb the Columbus Circle J. Crew has the best selection of markdowns.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Christian Louboutin sample sale started Tuesday and insiders, press and friends and family have been shopping away. Those who didn't receive an invite and can't see beyond the papered windows may be wondering what's inside.

Good thing for social media because you don't have to imagine. Today we curated a showcase of shoppers' hauls. It's virtual eye candy. Enjoy! (Sale details are below the photos.)

Monday, November 10, 2014

The Bloomingdales friends and family sale began today online. Shoppers can save 20% with the code HOLIDAY. Those looking for an in-store experience can presale now or being shopping on Wednesday.

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For this sale, the designer exclusion list seems overly extensive-- especially if they are looking for early holiday sales. The discounts can't even be applied to brands like, Ferragamo, Armani Collezioni, Dolce & Gabbana or Moschino.

Take note, that this discount can be stacked onto already reduced merchandise. For instance, this Theory jacket is already 40% off or $486 from $695. After the friends and family discount, the jacket is $386. This Marc by Marc Jacobs dress comes to about $360 from $600 and this Catherine Malandrino dress is $280 from almost $500.

The friends and family sale ends online and in stores on Sunday, November 16th. There's also free shopping on all orders over $150, which shouldn't be hard to reach.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Lisa Perry is hosting a sample sale in the back of her Madison Avenue boutique where her mod and pop designs are up to 80% off. The sale started Friday and you can be sure the best looking pieces will not hang around for long.

At the last sale, we found lots of sample sizes-- four and six-- dresses ranging in price from $200 to $300 and most skirts and tops are $200. A black long sleeved wool dress with turquoise circles was $300 as was a gray, black and chartreuse dress. A black and white vinyl and wool raincoat was $200 and a red and blue cotton sleeveless shift with circle pockets was $200.

The items with larger size runs were priced about 70% off. For example, we found a purple leather bomber jacket for $418 from $1395. Our favorite section is always the little girl's dresses. At the last sale kid's were $50 and most of the open stock was under $70. The children's sample size are mostly 4/5s.

If you're shopping the sale, be sure to be on the lookout for home accessories. The vinyl cupcake pillowcases priced at $10 from $125 and a logo messenger bag for $30 are purchases that we still love.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Skittles aren't the only way to catch a rainbow. The newest fashion trend for spring is the "classic" rainbow. Multi-colored pre-spring statement pieces are popping up all over the runway from technicolored dresses to exotic skin bags. Designer like Nancy Gonzalez and Valentino are poised to brighten spring with a bit of Roy-G-Biv. Below is the best of rainbow fashions, which provide enough happiness to make a Carebear jealous.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

It might sound ultra sentimental but one of the nicest things about the holiday season is catching up with friends near and far through holiday cards. The cheesy family photos are always the best part. Sure, it's a hassle to coordinate the photographer and the not-so-enthusiastic teens but the effort is does not go unappreciated.

This season, we are heading straight to Nordstom.com to punctuate our family photos with Burberry check. The style happens to look great on us all and it couldn't be easier to size and fit everyone up. What's best is that Nordstrom always offers free shipping and free returns. If only other holiday task were as easy as shopping at Nordstrom.

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It's a real bummer that most all department stores have cut the beauty counters out of their friends and family promotions. Not all hope is lost if you're looking to save a bit on cosmetics. Starting Thursday. Sephora will give customers 20% off beauty products plus exclusive gifts. Just type the word GIFT when checking out online.

The promotion will begin Thursday, November 6 and run through Monday, November 10. The discount is available in stores and online at Sephora.com. VIB and Rouge members can begin shopping early using the codes GIFTVIB and GIFTROUGE, respectively.

If you haven't been keeping up with what's hot in beauty, you might want to point your attention to a few key trends. One hot trend is metallic eye shadow and the YSL shadow palette is a big winner. Red and berry eye shadows are hard to wear and not look bruised but it was all over the runway. Try experimenting with an Eurydice from Nars in electric aubergine/ graphite. If all else fails, you can always nourish your beauty impulse with a new lipgloss. Eye liner is big: Jet wings, cat eyes, and tri-lines are taking the spotlight. Marc Jacobs has a great five-piece eye kit that includes everything you need to draw the perfect line.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

The novelty of designer collaborations seems a bit 2010 but that doesn't mean that there aren't any buzz worthy partnerships. Below are three designer mashups to help spice up the pre-coming holiday season.

Alexander Wang/H&M
November 6
We have no doubt that this week's launch of Alexander Wang's collection at H&M is going draw huge crowds. The sportif line is novel in this day of high-meets-low fashion, as it's true sportswear and not just the run of the mill designer-look-for-less. The collab officially launches November 6. A.Wang will be available online but we expect it to sell out f-a-s-t. You can head over to Racked to read all of the wheres and whens.

Mary Katrantzou/Adidas Originals
November 15
Our favorite pint designers, Mary Katrantzou, is creating a small collection for Adidas. Kaleidoscopic prints will adorn sneakers and a variety of eye-popping neoprene tops and dresses. Clothing prices will range between $80 and $450 and sneakers will cost between $170 to $250. You can head this way to see the entire lookbook.

Prabal Gurung/MAC
November 26
Prabal Gurung is teaming with the beauty giant, MAC, with a 14-piece collection that ranges from lipglass to lipgloss. The packaging has a luxe vintage feel. Eyeliners will be priced at $20, lipsticks $30, eyeshadow duos $40 and a buffer brush is $70. It seems as if MAC is expecting this fashion-cosmetic pairing to provide a boost to the luxe holiday gift offering. It may not be Louboutin polish but it looks promising.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Altuzarra's collection hit Target in Mid-September and shoppers pounced. We knew that the designer collaboration would be a big hit among New Yorkers but we didn't think the real normcor would take to the luxury merchandise as well. We were partially correct.

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At first, the racks were practically wiped clean of merchandise but then the boomerang effect kicked in. It appears as if Target's new 14 day-return policy on the collaboration made it so shoppers didn't sit on their purchases longer than necessary. Now, what's left is 50% off.

Those who frequent Target stores should scope out the clearance clothing section where you are likely to find an even larger assortment than what's online. You might find that prices are even better too.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Spy missions notoriously go wrong. Like the CIA, Mad-Spy sometimes receives bad information. We apologize for any inconvenience that our inaccuracies could have caused. We have updated the post to reflect-- what we hope to be-- the correct information.

The Christian Louboutin invitation only sample sale is one of the most coveted shopping tickets in town. It's the sale everyone loves to hate. The sale takes place in the corporate showroom and the security is tight and there's a clear mean-girls hierarchy to who is invented to shop first.

The most important Louboutin insiders, glossy magazine editors and celebrities, have been invited to begin shopping on Monday. The sale extends all week as the invited guest list expands to allow general press and "friends and family."

Most shoe styles range in price from $250 to $500. There is always a very limited assortment of men's sneakers and shoes, which range $300 to $400 depending on the detail. During the last sale our VIP snoops reported that most shoppers were buying in bulk -- meaning that most shoppers ended up with at least ten pairs of shoes each.

If you're considering door-busting this sale, we suggest that you use your best technique starting Wednesday. Be forewarned, at the last sale, there were three layers of clip-boards: one in the lobby, another at the elevator and a third in the showroom.

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About Me

I’m a fashion/business journalist turned blogger. New York Magazine, ABC News, Smart Money and The Wall Street Journal are just a few stops that have prepared me for this particular endeavor. I’m writing on my time about what I know best: Shopping. No sale is too private. No brand too aspirational. I’m breaking it down and dishing the best deals—and we’re not talking just sample sales. This is the real deal gurl!